The English Football League, which governs the three professional divisions directly below the Premier league, has voted to bring in a new rule where four out of the 16 players on game-day rosters squads will have to be 'home grown.' Chairmen of the league's 72 member clubs voted on the measure Thursday, and it will come into effect at the start of next season.

"I would like to compliment Football League clubs for having the foresight to make changes that will benefit the wider game," said Football League chairman Brian Mawhinney. "League clubs are at the forefront of developing young playing talent for the domestic game and are investing more than £40 million [$61 million] a season in this important area."

The rule means that a minimum of four players out of 16 named on a game-day roster must have been registered domestically for a minimum of three seasons before their 21st birthdays, but they can be of any nationality. The new rule is in line with guidelines favored by UEFA rather than the legally unworkable 'six-plus-five' proposal that FIFA President Sepp Blatter would like to impose on clubs.